St. Louis retailer Weekends Only goes green
Adopts new energy, recycling practices
Heath Combs -- Furniture Today, March 30, 2009
 Weekends Only Furniture estimates that it can keep 145 tons of cardboard annually out of landfills by recycling with the help of equipment like this cardboard baler, operated by John Dolan, operations manager at the chain’s Bridgeton, Mo., store. |
ST. LOUIS — In the past year, Weekends Only Furniture has implemented new energy and recycling standards in its five stores in the St. Louis metro area, its distribution center and corporate headquarters.
Energy saving improvements include installing new energy-saving lighting and recycling paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard.
More than 365,000 square feet of its facilities have been updated with high-efficiency light fixtures and bulbs, which has reduced total electricity usage by 33%, a company press release said.
The stores also partnered with Highland, Ill.-based Highland Recycling to install cardboard balers at its stores and distribution center. Weekends Only said it could recycle more than 145 tons of cardboard annually, keeping the material out of area landfills.
The retailer's efforts began in mid-2008. Store executives first focused on updating the light fixtures, and eventually adopted other eco-friendly practices as well, said Kristin Elsner, Web site content creator and advertising assistant at Weekends Only.
The company has a goal of continuous improvement and also has set a goal to have a paperless accounting department, she added.
"We realized how much cardboard we're using and we're really reducing that down. Previously it went to landfills," Elsner said. "In corporate office we use more real cups and plates, not plastic. They're recycling bins for employees."
Weekends Only also paired up with local school students who collect paper and aluminum cans to be recycled for fund-raising.
"Going green has greatly reduced our energy and waste management costs not only improving the environment, but carrying out our mission to save customers money," said CEO Tom Phillips.
Founded in 1997, the Weekends Only Furniture Outlet is open only Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and offers special buys and truckload purchases.
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